Couple trapped women in brothel and starved them until their bones protruded

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Luigi Cucu and Costela Soare both of Smethwick, Sandwell, were arrested in March 2023 for their roles in exploiting the women. (Picture: West Midlands Police)

A couple are now behind bars after officers discovered over a dozen women were victims of human trafficking and modern slavery offences. Acting on intelligence of women being advertised online for the purpose of prostitution, an in-depth three-year investigation was launched into the women being sexually exploited and subject to abuse and harm. Following a warrant, Luigi Cucu and Costela Soare both of Smethwick, Sandwell, were arrested in March 2023 for their roles in exploiting the women.Officers from our Major Crime Team later found 14 women had been victims of the couple?s crimes from January 2018 until March 2023.The team also discovered one of the victims had been trafficked into the UK in 2015 and transported to various locations across the country. She was found to have been subject to physical and verbal abuse, introduced into drug abuse resulting in large drug debts, controlled financially, and forced to work up to 20 hours a day. As well as being coercively controlled and refused access to any medical help. One of the victims was left so severely malnourished after not having enough money to buy food, her bones could visibly be seen protruding from her skin.We also uncovered the pair were estimated to have gained at least ?734,400 due to the sexual exploitation of the women to men around the country. Cucu, aged 46, was charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploit and controlling prostitution for gain. Appearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 21 November after pleading guilty, he was jailed for nine years and seven months. Thirty-seven-year-old Soare was charged with controlling prostitution for gain and entered a guilty plea.Appearing alongside Cucu she was jailed for three years and two months.Leading the investigation Detective Constable Mahadi Hasan, from the Major Crime Team, said: ?We?ve worked hard to bring these charges against both Cucu and Soare. ?It?s been a very in-depth and thorough investigation over the course of three years to comb through evidence to piece together the couple?s crimes and the abuse their victims went through.?We?ve supported and safeguarded the victims and I?m glad that both Cucu and Soare have now been put behind bars for their crimes.?Modern slavery and human trafficking are hidden crimes so it can be difficult to spot the signs. You can find out more on how to spot the signs and how to make a report here: Modern slavery and human trafficking | West Midlands Police — Luigi Cucu and Costela Soare both of Smethwick, Sandwell, were arrested in March 2023 for their roles in exploiting the women. (Picture: West Midlands Police)

A couple have been jailed after they were found guilty of running a brothel and human trafficking ring which trapped more than a dozen women in modern slavery.

Luigi Cucu, 46, and Costela Soare, 37, of Smethwick near Birmingham, exploited 14 women between 2018 and 2023.

One victim, who was trafficked to the UK in 2015, was physically and verbally abused, introduced to abusing drugs which resulted in her accumulating large debts and controlled financially.

She was denied medical care and forced to work 20-hour days.

Another victim was severely malnourished, as she did not have enough funds to buy food, and her bones were protruding from her skin.

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Police launched a three-year investigation into the couple, after they discovered online posts advertising women for prostitution.

After a warrant, the pair were arrested in March 2023. Officers from the West Midlands Police Major Crime Team found that the couple had profited significantly from their exploitation, earning an estimated £734,400 by selling sexual services to men across the country.

Cucu was charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of a person for exploitation, along with controlling prostitution for financial gain.

After pleading guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 21, he was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison.

Soare also plead guilty to controlling prostitution for gain and was jailed for three years and two months.

Leading the investigation Detective Constable Mahadi Hasan, from the Major Crime Team, said: ‘We’ve worked hard to bring these charges against both Cucu and Soare.

‘It’s been a very in-depth and thorough investigation over the course of three years to comb through evidence to piece together the couple’s crimes and the abuse their victims went through.

‘We’ve supported and safeguarded the victims and I’m glad that both Cucu and Soare have now been put behind bars for their crimes.’

Find out how to spot the signs of modern slavery and human trafficking and how to make a report here.

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